The woods on Cape Cod house this easily overlooked little spring beauty. Starflower does not form dense mats like bearberry, nor does it produce colorful berries. Also, the leaves are of a green similar to the surrounding grasses so you could be forgiven for missing this little plant altogether. The flowers and leaves disappear in […]
Archive for the ‘Plant bio’ Category
Trientalis borealis (starflower)
Posted in Flora, Interesting, Plant bio on June 2, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Osmunda cinnamomea (cinnamon fern)
Posted in Edible, Flora, Interesting, Plant bio on May 31, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Cinnamon fern is one of the larger ferns we have – I have a handful in the woodland garden, reaching over 4 feet in height. The plants are quite beautiful: The fertile fronds appear first as furry fiddleheads, ultimately becoming stiff, erect, and soon turn a chocolate brown color – very much like a stick […]
Geranium maculatum (spotted geranium)
Posted in Flora, Plant bio on May 31, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
This plant needs no introduction. Geranium maculatum does not look that different from the common garden geranium variety, but this species is native to eastern North America. It grows in dry to moist woods and purportedly can get abundant after a few years. I have only two of these plants, but I’ve seen them take […]
Baptisia australis (blue false indigo)
Posted in Flora, Plant bio on May 31, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
I acquired two of these plants and put them in different spots – the soil conditions are the same – sandy, somewhat dry. The plant that’s only getting dappled sunlight in the afternoon is actually flowering, while the one that gets steady light most of the day is not showing any sign of blooming. The […]
Maianthemum canadense (canada mayflower)
Posted in Edible, Flora, Plant bio on May 31, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
While I do not have canada mayflower in my yard, there are several patches on my street and alongside other streets abutting woods and woodlands. I noticed the leaves of these plants last fall, and thought I was dealing with lilly of the valley. An easy mistake to make, in fact: The other name for […]
Smilacina stellata (star flowered false solomon’s seal)
Posted in Flora, Plant bio on May 26, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
I added a couple of plants two years ago, and already this plant is exploring new territories in the woodland garden. It does not produce a dense growth, however, so it plays nice with the other plants (ferns and other assorted groundcovers) in that particular section. As the name states, this little false Solomon’s Seal […]
Aralia nudicaulis (wild sarsaparilla)
Posted in Edible, Flora, Plant bio on May 26, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Wild sarsaparilla sprouts up just about everywhere in my woodland garden, even the lawn. This perennial woodland plant is an indicator species of rich moist woodlands, although it seems to be thriving in a more sandy and rocky environment. Aralia nudicaulis sends up a single, long-stalked leaf and flowering stalk from a very short stem. […]
From the invasives dossier: Veronica serpyllifolia (thymeleaf speedwell)
Posted in Flora, Invasive, Plant bio on May 25, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Thymeleaf speedwell is another miniature invader from Europe. It is present in my lawn. I don’t mind particularly, because the little flowers are beautiful even though you may need magnifying glasses to truly enjoy them. Sure, I could eradicate them from my yard just like some other lawns I’ve seen – the plant can take […]
Viola pedata (birdfoot violet)
Posted in Edible, Flora, Interesting, Plant bio on May 24, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Viola pedata is a violet native to states east of the Rockies, from Texas to Maine (but not in Florida for some reason). This plant is different in three ways – First, the leaves are deeply lobed. Second, there are no hairs near the throat of the flower. Third, and last: Unlike other violets this […]
From the invasives dossier: Veronica arvensis (corn speedwell)
Posted in Flora, Invasive, Plant bio on May 24, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
This plant is diminutive and has the smallest flowers possible (1/8th of an inch if even that). This is an upright, clumping winter annual that produces small purple, blue or whitish flowers in the spring. The lower portion of the plant has leaves that are round-to-oblong, while the leaves on the flowering upper branches are […]